The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 6 letter word TAONGA
T
A
O
N
G
A
Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "Maori prize" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case maori prize = taonga.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does TAONGA mean?
TAONGA noun- In Maori culture, any treasured thing, whether tangible or intangible.